Flanging machine



Oct. 6, 1925. f 1,556,166

c. w. SIEVERT FLANGING MACHINE Filed July 14, 192 4 sheets-sheet 2 Qa. 6,1925.v

- C. W. SIEVERT FLANGING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lLssemsa Oct. 6,

C W. SIEVERT FLANGING MACHINE File July 14. 1920 4 sheets-sneer 4 atented (Eet. 5, 11925..

unirse stares CHARLES W. SIEVERT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FLANGING MACHINE.

Application filed July 14, 1920.

To @ZZ whom 'it' may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES YV. SIEVERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and usei ul lmprovements in Flanging Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flanging machines adapted to turn or bend a flange upon sheet metal or the like. The usual, although not the exclusive, use of such flanging machines is for turning a circular flange on the edge of a circular plate; and for the reason that this is the most common use that vsuch machines are put to, l illustrate The invention further relates to improvements in that general type of machine shown and described in my issued Patent Number 1,124,963, dated January 12, 1915; and a general object of the present invention is to provide an improved mechanism for a flanging machine of that general type; to provide certain improvements in the flange turning devices (hereinafter described); to provide a design and construction applicable to large machines for heavy work as well as to small machines for light work; and to provide a design and construction which may be utilized for power operation as well as for hand operation.

There are many particular objects of the invention andvcorresponding detailed features of the machine, and there. are many detailed improvements. These will all be best understood, as also the broad features of the present invention, from the following detailed description of preferred and specific forms of mechanism embodying the invention. These preferred and specific forms of mechanism l illustrate and describe in detail7 not for the purpose of limiting my invention to the particular details herein described, but for the purpose of giving a complete and clear understanding of the invention through a complete understanding of the details of specific forms thereof.

One of the features of change and improvement, as compared with the machine of my former patent, relates to the travel lof the former. In my previous machine the Serial No. 396,107.

former has been pivoted and has traveled in a circular oscillating motion; whereas now I make the former travel preferably rectilinearly, guided by suitable ways on the frame of the machine. During the contact of the vformer with the sheet metal the latter is held down upon the anvil by a presser foot; and there is cooperating mechanism to cause the operation of the presser foot synchronously with the operation of the former. ln a power operated machine the former is now preferablymoved by a screw action; and means are provided for reversing the screw action to move the former back and forth. In a hand operated machine of the present type the former moves on ways; and operates the same as the former in the power operated type; but instead of being moved by screw action it is moved by hand operated lever action. Both types of machine are designed so that great power may be developed for the actuation of the former; so that very heavy plates may be quicklyvlianged. It is one of the features of the present machine that it is so designed and constructed as to be capable of applying heavy pressure for handling heavy work, and capable of amply withstanding the strain incident to such work; and, furthermore, subject to comparatively 'little wear in prolonged operation.

Another improvement in the present machine is in the shape of the former. is made concave on its plate engaging face so that it assists the compression of the flange periphery to correspond to the reduced diameter of the turned flange. This is fully described hereinafter; and this im.-y provement assists materially in the turning of ianges particularly on heavy plates.

For the purpose of describing in detail preferred forms of machines embodying the present invention I now refer to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a plan of the power operated type of machine; Fig. Q is a side elevation of the upper part of said machine; Fig. 3 is a vertical central longitudinal section of the machine. taken as indicated by line Di-8 on Fig. 1; Fig. l is a front elevation of the machine.; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed section taken as indicated by line 5 5 on Fig. 3; Fig. A6 is a horizontal section taken as indicated by line 6 6 on Figs.

This t,

progresses.

and may .specifically described, e-Xceptas it provides bearings, guides and supportsfor the operating parts, as willbe hereinafter noted. `Tn

.the front and upperparts` of the frame there is formed a heavy supporting block l1,.upon .whichanvil 12 is supported. Theanvil 12is provided with side wings oi' flanges 13 which lie on Vopposite sides ofblock 1l and fit fairly snugly .against the side lsurfaces of the block, so as to lform guidesto guide the anvil 12 true in its movement of adjustment into and out of the machine (to the right and to the left in Figs. .2 and The anvil may be moved furthe-r into the machine by means of an adjusting screw 14. This screw is heavy and forms the. abutment against which the anvil backs up solidly during the operation of the machine. In the section of the anvil shown in Fig. 3 it will be seen that the anvil is L-shaped and that its under surface rests `directly upon the upper surface of block 11.

The anvil is thus very solidly supported in `the machine and is adjustable back and forth toward and away from the former 15. Thel front. face 16 of the anvil is curved in plan, `as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 6. This curvature may vary according to the diameter of the circular flange wished to be lresting solidly upon block 11 g and it may be lifted fromy the block when presser foot 2O is removed. The anvil carries an outwardly projecting rod 1 with an adjustable collar 22 tiereon, the collar carrying a center pin 23 over which a central hole in the plate 2st may be placed, so that the plate may be swung around on its center as the langing Collar 22 is adjust-able upon rod .21 to suit different diameters of plates, be set in any given position by a set screw 24a. The anvil is recessed at 25 .so that collar 22 may be moved up int-o the recess to position quite close to the curved form-ing face 16 of the anvil, to accommodate vplates of small diameters.

The upper plate supporting surface 3G of the. anvil is also curved in a direction transverseof the machine` (that is, in a direction transverse of the plane ofthe 'drawing in Fig. 3). This upper surface is convex, as is clearly shown in Fig. 5; and it is preferably, and forpurposesof simplicity, made substantially of a cylindrical curvature. This curvature may be varied in different anvils; on anvils having a greater front face `curvature at 16, and therefore adapted for plates of smaller dia-meters, the upper face curvature may be greater; while on anvils adapted for larger plates, or, more strictly speaking, for plates where the depth of flange to be turned is smaller in proportion to the radius ofthe plate, ythe upper face .curvature may be `comparatively smaller.

The purposes and eifectsof tliiscurvat-ure will be later explained when the operation of the machine is explained indetail.

'Presser foot 20 has `its under face 31 curved'to conform tothe curvature of face 30 of the anvilgso that when the plate 2e' is pressed down on the anvil by the presser foot it will be forced into the curved lshape illustrated in '5. The presserfoot 2O is pivotally mounted on a pin 32 on the forward end of an operatinglever 33 which is pivotally mounted on horizontal pin 3e in the frame of the machine. This pivotal mounting of the'foot allows it to adjust itself properly with reference to the yupper curved face 30 of the anvil, sofas to press the plate close-ly against the curved face of the anvil. lThe part of the'presser foot over the anvil recess 25 is relievedas shown at 35 to allow center-pin 23 to be moved close Vin on the smaller anvils for handling` small .from moving endwise by-havin0 a central groove i0 engaged by a: screw'fll. In the positions Ashown in the various views the downwardly moving cam plates V3) have just engaged roller 36a and have moved the meiiiber 35i-.to the right in Fig.V 3. Member v36 is adjustable upon the arm 33a; an adjusting screw forming the means of adjustment and forming an labutment against which men'iber 36 presses back. Movement of member 36 to thevright, caused by camyplates 39, will cause movement of arm 33a to the right `and' will vcause downward movement of presser foot 20, as will be apparent. ,Screw l-fis properly `adjusted so that, when the cam plates 39 have acted to press member 36 to the right, the presser'footQO is pressed vie if guide ways 51.

loose (in all horizontal directions) in the` down solidly upon a plate of any given thickness, pressing that plate down tightly against the anvil, and holding it there in the curved configuration shown in Fig. 5. It will be noted that the cam plates 39 have vertical faces of some extent; so that, after the member 36 has once been pushed to the right by the downward motion of the former block 15, it will be held in that position to the right during a considerable downward movement of the former block-during the movement of the former block in which it is engaging the edge of plate 24.

Former block is preferably shaped as illustrated in the various views, particularly in Fig. 7. It has onv its opposite sides vertical grooves adapted to engage vertical guide ribs 51 which are preferably formed integrally in frame 10. In the power operated type of machine the former block 15 is hollow and contains loosely a square nut 52 which runs upon the thread 53 of vertical screw shaft 54. The former block 15 is adapted to be accurately guided by the Nut 52 is comparatively former block, the nut fitting in the recess in the back of the block and being confined between upper and lower ribs 55, so that the block must travel vertically with the nut. The nut fits the recess well enough, however, so that it cannot rotate with the screw. The upper end of screw shaft 54 preferably has no bearing, except the bearing that it has in the nut 52. The lower end, however, is

provided with double vradial bearings :at 56 and 57 and double end thrust bearings at 58 and 59. VThese end thrust bearings may be adjusted by the adjustment of bearing collars 60 and screw threads 61 on the shaft, these collars being set in any desired position by the set screws 62. All end play may be easily taken up. Between the bearings 56 and 57 a bevel gear 63 is mounted on shaft and a bevel driving pinion 6ev meshes with gear 63. Pinion 64: ismounted upon the driving shaft 65; and this driving shaft may be driven in any suitable manner from g u -fulV operation of the former block; so that any suitable source of supply. I may prefer to driveshaft 65 by belt connection with a suitable reversible motor, and for that purpose a belt pulley 66 is mounted upon shaft The motor is illustrated at 67 in Fig. 3.

65. I t may be of any suitable type, but preferably a reversiblemotor, so that automatic reversing action of the machine may be controlled by properly switching the motoif current.

I show a suitable arrangement for con# At the side of the mashaft 80.

in the drawings. In this position it is adapted to connect the motorin circuit to rotate the screw shaft 5st in such a direction as to feed the former block downwardly. The means for actuating arm 71 may comprise `a pair of adjustable lugs '72 set upon a rod 73 (preferably a square rod, so that the lugs will not turn out of position). This rod moves vertically in suitable guide bearings Its upper end is curved over and extends downwardly and is connected at 7 5 to the former block 15. The rod thus reciprocates vertically with the former block; and the adjustable lugs '72 are set in such positions as to throw the switch arm 71 when `the fornieiI block vreaches the upper and lowerliinits of its desired stroke. Connections are made between the switch and i' motor 67 in any of the well known manners,

' 77 connects with ay pin 78 on the end of a short arm 79 mounted on the operating Shaft 8O is mounted transversely ,of the machine, and on the end of shaft 80 there are two arms 81 (only one of which is shown in Fig. 8). These arms have at their outerends sockets 82 through which the operating handle 83 may slide. The operating handle projects out forwardly of the machine; and this operating handle may be made Vof pipe bent to a substantially U-shape, with the two long legs of thev U extending through the twosockets 82. By sliding the handle 83 back and forth through the socket the leverage may be adjusted as desired. The leverage system in this hand operated mechanism is designed to give a very powerheavy plates may be flanged by hand power.

`The front face of the former block 15 is shapedand constructed as isbest shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 7. There is an overhanging nose 15- below which the former block pres'e'nts'la downwardlyy Vfacing surface 15b.

This surface 15D is concaved downwardly as will be understood fro-m an inspection of Figs., 3 and 7; so that thetwo outer edge points of this surface will first come into engagement with the sheet metal. Acavity of surface 15b may be described as fac- Tlie conl ing downwardly (facing in the direction of movement of the former onto the metal plate) and having a curvature that extends lengthwise of, or along, the edge of the pivot pinshwhich receive heavy pressure under friction, may be easily removed if they wear. In lboth forms of device it is to be noted that the former block is prcvided with long` and broad bearing surfaces upon its guidcways, s0 that the former block is solidly supporte-d upon ways where little vfear takes place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a Hanging machine, an anvil and means to hold a plate with its edge to be flanged projecting beyond the anvil, and a former movable transversely of the plate onto its projecting edge part and past the plate supporting face of the anvil, the former having on its forward face that engages the plate and passes the anvil surface a concave plate engaging surface with the concavity facing in the direction of its movement onto the plate the curvature of said concavity extending along the edge of the anvil over which the plate projects, substantially as described.

2. In a Hanging machine, an anvil and means to hold a plate with its edge to be Hanged projecting beyond the anvil, and a former rectilinearly movable transversely of the plate onto its projecting edge part and past the plate supporting` face of the anvil, the former having on its forward face that first engages the plate and passes the anvil surface a concave plate engaging surface with the concavity facing in the direction of its movement onto the plate, the curvature of said concavity extending along the edge of the anvil. over which the plate projects` substantially as described.

3. In a Hanging machine, an anvil and means to hold a plate with its edge to .be flanged projecting` beyond the anvil and to bend the plate concavely toward the anvil on an axis transverse of the plate edge, and a former movable transversely of the plate onto its projecting edge part and past the plate support-ing face of the anvil, the former having on its forward face that first engages the plate and passes the anvil surface a concave plate engaging surface with the concavity facing in the direction of its l movement onto the-plate, the curvature of said concavity extending along the edge of the anvil over which the plate projects, substantially as described.

4. In a Hanging machine, an anvily and means to hold a plate with its edge to be flanged projecting beyond the anvil and to bend the plate concavely toward the .anvil on an axis transverse of the plate edge, and. a former rectilinearly movabletransversely of the plate onto its projecting edge part and past the plate supporting face of the anvil, the former having on its forward face that first engages the plate and passes the anvil surface a concave plate engaging surface with the concavity facing in the direction of its movement onto the plate, the curvature'of said concavity extending along the edge of the anvil over which the plate projects, substantially as described.

In a flangjing machine, a frame, a plate carrying anvil thereon, a presser foot adapted to hold a plate on the anvil with its edge to be flanged projecting beyond the anvil edge, Ways on the frame near the anvil and extending in a direction transverse to the plane of the plate held on the anvil, a former reciprccablev ou said ways past the edge of the anvil and adapted to engage and bend the edge of a plate held on the anvil, said former having on its forward face that first engages the plate and lpasses the anvil surface a concave plate engaging surface with the concavity `facing in its' direction of movement toward the plate and the curvature of said concavity extending along the edge of the anvil over which the plate projects, substantially as described. Y

6 In a Hanging machine, a frame, a plate carrying anvil thereon, a presser foot adapted to hold a plate on the anvil with its edge to be flanged projecting beyond the anvil edge, ways on the frame near the anvil and extending in a direction transverse to the plane of the plate held on the anvil, a former reciprocable on said ways past the anvil edge and adapted to engage and bend the edge of a plate held on the anvil, said former having on its forward face that first engages the plate and passes the anvil sur-4 face a concave plate engaging surface with.

its concavity facing in the direction of nievement toward the plate and the curvature ofl said concavity extending along the edge of the anvil over which the plate projects, substantially as described; the anvil and presser foot 'being curved so as to bend the plate between them concavely toward theanvil on an axis transverseof the said edge of the anvil.

7. In a Hanging machine, a frame, a plate carrying anvil thereon. a presser foot adapted to hold a plate on the anvil with its edge to be flanged `projectingbeyond the anvil edge, ways on the 5frame near the anvil and extending ina -direction transverse to the plane of the plate held on the anvil, a former reciprocable on said ways past the edge of the anvil and adapted to engage and bend the edge of a plate heldY on the anvil, said former having on its forward face that first engages the plate and passes the anvil surface a concave plate engaging surface with yits concavity facing in its direction of movement toward the plate and the curvature of said concavity extending along thel edge of the anvil over 'which the plate projects. substantially as described; and the anvil and presser foot being curved so as to bend the plate between them to a curvature on an axis transverse of the said anvil edge' andwitli its c'omz'av'ityl facing the anvil.

8. In a Hangingiiiachine, a fraine, a plate carrying: anvil thereon, a presser" foot adapted to hold a plate on the anvil with its edgelto" be flanged projecting beyond the anvil edge,ways on theffrainenear the anvil and extending in ay direction transversepto the plane of the platev held on the anvil, a former reciprocable on said ways past the anvil edge and adapted to engage and bend the edge of a plate held on the anvil, said former having a concave plate engaging surface with its concavity facing in its direction of movement toward the plate; and means to reciprocate the former on its ways embodying a screw shaft substantially parallel to the ways, andthe former carrying` a floating nut engaging the screw shaft.

9. In a Hanging machine, a frame, a plate carrying anvil thereon, a presser foot adapted to hold a plate on the anvil with its'edge to be Hanged projecting beyond the anvil edge, ways on the frame near the anvil and extending in a direction transverse to the, plane of the plate held on the anvil, a former reciprocable on said ways past the anvil edge and adaptedto engage and bend the edge of a plate held on the anvil` said former having on its forward face that lirst engages the plate and passes the anvil surface a concave plate engaging surface with its concavity facing .in its direction of movement toward the plate and the curvature of said conca'vity extending along the edge of the anvil over which vthe plate projects, substanti'ally7 as described; and thel anvil and presser foot being curved so as to bend the plate between theni'to'a curvature onlan axis transverse of thesaid anvil edge; and means to reciprocate the former on its ways embodying a screw shaft substantially parallel to the'ways` and the former carrying a Hoating nut engaging the screw shaft.

10. In a Hanging machine, a frame, a plate carrying anvil thereon having an upper plate supporting surface and a side surface against which the edge ofthe plate` may be'bent back to formv a Hange, means to hold a plate on the anvil in aposition projecting beyond said side surface, ways on the frame parallel to the Hanging surface of the' anvil., a former reciprocable on the ways and `adaptednto engage the edge of a plate on the anvil and bend the edge to form a Harige and adapted bv its movement on the waysparallel to the Hanging surface of the anvil to wipe over, the whole surface to the formed flange; the plate supporting face of the' anvil being conveXed on an axis transverse'o'fthe saidanvil side surface and the convenity facing the direction from which the-former approaches the anvil in.- its flange face against which the edge of the plate may Y be bent back to form a Hange,means to hold' the plate on the anvil, ways on the frame parallel to the Hanging surface of the anvil, a former ieciprocable on the ways and adapted to engage the edge of a plate on' the anvil and bend the edge toform a flange and adapted by its movement on the waysV parallel to the Hanging surface ofthe anvil to wipe over the whole surface of the formed flange; and` means for reciprocating the former on the ways, said'ineans embodyingv moving mechanism loosely connectedito the former to move it on and be guided bythe ways, said ways taking the lateral thrust of the former as itv presses laterally againstl the flange.

12. In a Hanging machine, a frame, a plate-carrying anvil thereon having an upper plate-supporting surface and a side surface against which the edge of the plate may be bent back to form a Hange, means to hold a plate on-the anvil, wayson the` frame parallel to the Hanging surface of the anvil, a former reciprocable on the ways and adapted to engage the edge of ay plate on the anvil and bend the edge to form a Hange and adapted byV its movement on the ways parallel to the Hanging surface of the anvil to wipe ove-i` the whole surface to the i formed Hange; and means for reciprocating the former on the ways embodying a screw shaft parallel to the ways and alcooperat'- ingI nut Hoatingly carried by the'fornier, the Hoatingnut having lateral freedom relative to the former so that the former is entirely free to be guided bythe ways alone andA so that the ways take' the lateral thrust of the former as it presses laterally againstA the flange.

13. In a Hanging machine, means to hold a plate in a curvature about an axis parallel t-o the plate and transverse vof its edge to be Hanged, and a Hanging former movable onto the edge portion of the platev in a direction transversely of the plate and from` thatside ofthe plate that is held convex toward that side of the plate that'is held concave, said former having on its forward surfacethat first engages the plate a concave plate engaging surfacefwith its con-` cavity facing in the direction ofv movement of the former onto the plate and the curva ture of said concavity extending along the edge of the anvil over Which the plate projects, substantially as described.

14. In a flanging machine, means to hold a plate in a curvature about an axis parallel to the plate. and transverse of its edge to be flanged, and a flanging former movable onto the edge portion of the plate in a. direction transversely of the plate and from that side of the plate that is held convex toward that side of the plate that is held concave, said former having on its forward surface that first engages the plate a concave engaging surface With its conca-vity facing in the direction of movement of the former onto the plate and the curvature of said concavity extending along the edge of the anvil over Which theA plate projects, substantially as described and the former also :zo having a concave face that Wipes the formed flange, the axis of said last-mentioned concavity being substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the former.

15. In a flanging machine, means to hold a plate with its edge to be flanged projecting beyond the holding means, and a former movable transversely of the plate onto its projecting edge part and past the plane of the plate, the former having on its face to- Ward the holding means a plate engaging surface concave about an axis parallel to the direction of movement of the former and having on its forward face that first engages the plate a plate engaging surface concave Whose curvature extends along the edge of the plate substantially as described. In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of June, 1920.

CHARLES WV. SIEVERT. 

